By Brett Pollock, Deputy Chief
West Manatee Fire & Rescue District, Everyone Goes Home State Advocate

Following the death of a rookie Texas firefighter Brian Hunton, the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge was created to bring awareness of buckling up while in a fire department vehicle and a way to reduce firefighter fatalities. According to Dr. Burton Clarke, Training Specialist for the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and outspoken advocate for the use of seat belts. "Over 400 firefighters have died in vehicle crashes iii the last 30 years, 300 of them did not have their seat belt on."

Dr. Clarke states. "Not wearing seat belts is the #1 safety violation in the fire service today." Provisional data for 2007 showed the cause of fatal injuries as attributed to vehicle collisions, resulting in 26 line of duty deaths (LODD) the second leading cause of firefighter fatalities. Additionally, 21% LODD were a result of incident responses. So, the smartest and safest way to protect yourself and your crew is to insure that everyone has his or her seat belt on.

Currently, eleven fire departments in Florida have taken the pledge. But these 11 only represent a small number of departments and firefighters across the state. The ability to save one firefighter or an engine company can be as simple as taking the pledge. While having his personnel take the seat belt pledge, Boca Raton Chief Thomas Wood found that one of his firefighters could not use a conventional seat belt. An extension had to be purchased to ensure departmental seat belt compliance was being followed. Without taking the pledge, the firefighter might still be responding without a seat belt.

Sponsors of the seatbelt pledge, USFA, National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs', National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fire Protection Association want to make sure that Everyone Goes Home. Take the pledge by going to: www.trainingdivision.com/SeatBeltPledge.asp

Florida fire departments that have taken the Pledge:

Boca Raton Fire Rescue Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue Deland Fire Department NAS Key West Fire Department Minneola Fire/Rescue Orange City Fire Department	Punta Gorda Fire Department Southern Manatee Fire & Rescue Villages Public Safety Volusia County Fire Services West Manatee Fire Rescue